Steve Bucknor...

...clearly needs to retire. But he must be working on in the strenuous role as the Umpire - perhaps because he needs to earn more to build a retirement home. I suggest the Indian Government and the BCCI should do the noble thing and provide the poor man with a retirement home in a scenic location. I would suggest that the Kashmir Valley - a few metres off the LOC would be a perfect place for the same. The view would be great and even though the sound pollution would be huge - hearing has always been Bucknor's problem - so that would not affect him.

Your "Buck" "Nor" your might ...

The easiest option ofcourse is to log in a complaint against Bucknor. However one doubts what effect that will have for in 2003-04 Ganguly had given him a very negative report - both for the atrocious decisions in that Sydney Test and for mimicking Rahul Dravid - rather taunting him as a ball tamperer. Nothing came out of that. And why go that far back in time - just rewind to the World Cup in 2007 in West Indies and remember the farce that was played out by the umpires - Mr Steve "Blind and Deaf" Bucknor was the lead actor there as well. The punishment? A free vacation during the T20 World Cup. So the worst that the ICC will do is prevent him standing in 2011 World Cup - by which time hopefully his knees will have given way anyway

The other option is to protest through a walkout or a forfeit. Barely the best possible solution - this will very easily turn the "public opinion" against India all over the world. Something Pawar will definitely not risk with him slated to be the ICC Chairman in 2009. Besides it may paint us as unsporting - even if in the face of disgusting umpiring and hypocrisy from the Aussie players. Given Kumble's rep - i doubt he will be in favour of pulling out completely. Maybe Ganguly as captain might have considered it - if it was to be Gavaskar - well history speaks for itself.

If we send a B-grade team it will have to be the BCCI's call. It means that they risk future income from series - where if umpiring goes wrong - you find lesser players playing in the series. No one really wants to watch it - it sets a precedent which can be used against the BCCI in future negotiations and given that greed is a word that can loosely be attached to the BCCI - the safe money is on the fact that they will do nothing of that sort.

If the players speak out - they will be banned for matches. Their comments will be deemed racist ?

So the only way out seems for the Indians to cop it - grin - and be laughed at by the Aussie Media unless Pawar decides to take revenge for the shove by Ponting but for a politician it seems the last way out. And probably is where we will miss Dalmiya

2nd January

We seem to have made a habit of playing extremely important test matches on the 2nd January.

In 2004 - we were playing at Sydney with the chance to knock Australia and very rudely gatecrash Steve Waugh's farewell party. Unfortunately he was there himself to guard the gates along with Bucknor and Parthiv and we were foiled. Nevertheless it was a glorious series

In 2007 - we were playing South Africa - again on the brink of history - we could have won our first series there and everything about the first day's play indicated that we were on our way. But then we aint Indian Cricket for nothing

And now in 2008 - we play arguably the most important test match for International Cricket (no not just for Indian Cricket) but for International Cricket. For over the last few years - only the Indian team has threatened the Aussies ever so consistently. And this is by far the most suited batting lineup for an upset. If we win this test we continue to be alive in the series and we make cricket interesting - very interesting.

Sydney has always been our best chance of winning a test in Australia. Now if only the batsmen were to wakeup and insist on batting in their favoured positions we might have a match on our hands

And then it was history - 2007

Topsy turvy. Crazy. Full circle.

I think the year for Indian Cricket can be termed with those 3 words.

We started the year with hope - going into a 2nd January match against South Africa - the series level at 1-1. A chance to win the series at Capetown and create history. We fell short and then we wondered if it was indeed time to say a final Goodbye to that icon SRT? Meanwhile Ganguly had quietly and steadily made his entry into the team.

We went back to India - low on confidence but with the chance to bounce back against the Windies. And we did so in style - raising hopes again that all was not indeed lost for the World Cup. We took what looked like a good team but a coach who was definitely off his rocker. SRT had bounced back as had Ganguly and Dravid was now looking every inch a winnning captain.

The World Cup - the holy grail of cricket - ruined by the ICC and some insane batting against Bangladesh and Sri Lanka. Sachin at 4?? Whose mad idea was that anyway? A first round exit. Everyone was wondering about the quickest way to get rid of the "Old Gang" - the deadwood as they were called. There was outrage at home as always, a baying for blood, a call for heads to roll.

And then there was the tour to Bangladesh - a young team was supposedly sent there - however how a 30yr old Dinesh Mongia qualifies as young is anybody's guess. SRT and Dada were rested - an euphemism for dropped? Dravid retained as captain. Then there were the tests where the stalwarts came back and played like stalwarts.

It was onwards to England to play the tests. A weather saved test at Lords and then some purposeful batting by the oldies - the series was won and the fallen heroes were restored to some part of their glory. The ODI series might have not been won but again the oldies showed their mettle with youngsters like Uthappa shining it too and things were merry again. The captain - the Wall was well and truly shining

Onward to South Africa to play the World Cup for the shortest version of the game - a new captain was announced and a completely young team. Nothing expected from them - but they pulled off the proverbial rabbit from the hat and went on to win the whole damn thing. One WC lost miserably - another was won gloriously. And then there were new heroes - yet again there was a call to lay to rest the older ones. Who needed deadwood when you had world beating polished plywood?

Then the Kangaroos came home - the old captain had put in his papers and soon enough he was out of the team. Yet the other 2 oldies held on - teaching the others a thing or two about batsmanship. SRT was apparently back to the golden ages they said. And Dada - the most fantastic comeback there ever could be had been scripted.

Bring on the Pakis - Batter the Pakis. An old captain - the old guard firing - the young brigade knocking and Australia was beckoning.

A loss not withstanding - this year has been a topsyturvy one for India. Win lose Win lose. Its been crazy - we have seen 3 captains in the year. We have seen our best batsman dropped unceremoniously. And life has come a full circle. Its Dada and SRT opening yet again - and gloriously. We have a 37 year old spinner at the helm.

The more things have changed the more they have remained the same